Club Night - 9th June Eastham Ferry Hotel Ferry Road Eastham CH62 0AU
Issue No 206
June 2015
W I R R A L A D VA N C E D M O TO R C Y C L I S T S Group Council 2015-2016 Web Site
IAM Group 5115 http://www.w-a-m.co.uk
Chairman
Tim Brown
chairman@w-a-m.co.uk
Vice Chairman
Ken Smith
vicechairman@w-a-m.co.uk
Honorary Treasurer
Lindsay Boston
treasurer@w-a-m.co.uk
Membership
Nina Jeffries
membership@w-a-m.co.uk
Associate Coordinator
Rob D’Cruze
associatecoordinator@w-a-m.co.uk
Chief Observer
Mike Boston
chiefobserver@w-a-m.co.uk
Honorary Secretary
Rob Cooper 0151 648 4503
secretary@w-a-m.co.uk
Events Organiser
Dave Spotswood events@w-a-m.co.uk
Newsletter Editor & WebMeister
Peter Lovatt
Minute Secretary
position vacant
Group Shop
Martin Titley 0151 632 3570
groupshop@w-a-m.co.uk
Gift Aid Coordinator
Rob D’Cruze
giftaid@w-a-m.co.uk
Ride Out Coordinator
Rob Tutchings
rideouts@w-a-m.co.uk
newsletter@w-a-m.co.uk
Other Council members Nicole Rigby Carl Mason Cliff Evans Derek Jeffries Graeme Thow Steve Lord
MAGAZINE TEAM:
CONTACT WAM
Editor: Peter Lovatt
Rob Cooper Coopers Upholstery The Old Bank Everton Valley Liverpool L5 0RH
Duplication: C3 Imaging, Liverpool Distribution: The Post Office! 2
Welcome to the June issue of the WAM newsletter. The first FLC of 2015 has finished and the results are starting to come in, so it is Congratulations to Chris Ash, who passed his IAM advanced test with Chris Givvons. So Well done Chris! Also we have had the Official Ride out to RAF Cosford on the 10th May. Only a handful of riders attended, but it was a good ride out, and a good walk around the exhibits there. See the pic below! This month we have hopefully Moto Air Jackets turning up for a talk, about erm, jackets with air bags in. Should be interesting!
Also this month Rob T will be riding out to Carsington Water, and the route is within this issue. So I’ll sign off for this month, so you can read this issue. Fancy a quickie? Question that is? Do you know what a HADECS 3 is?
I do now after reading this issue! Pete Future Events 14th June, Carsington Water and the Peak District. 19th July: destination to be confirmed. 23rd August: Elan Valley and Mid West Wales. 27th September, destination to be confirmed. 25th October, ditto. If there is enough interest in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Whitby then a route can be arranged !! Bikesafe: Observers Day: Sunday 8th March, at Emergency Training Centre, East Street, Seacombe, CH41 1BY, as are all Bikesafe dates. 27th/28th June. 11th/12th July. 8th/9th August. 19th/20th September. 17th/18th October. 3
WIRRAL ADVANCED MOTORCYCLISTS
Diary of Events www.w-a-m.co.uk *************************
June 9th Club Night - MotoAir Jackets 14th Official Ride out to Carsington Water *************************
July 14th Club Night - to be confirmed *************************
This is the link for the WAM Official Forum, set up for Members of Wirral Advanced Motorcyclists ONLY. It is a forum for Associates, Observers, and members of WAM to discuss Official Group Rides out, riding techniques, FLC matters, and similar topics. To join you MUST give your name and Postcode when you Subscribe.
Group name: WAMOfficialForum Group home page: http:// uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/WAMOfficialForum Subscribe: to subscribe to the group send a BLANK email to WAMOfficialForum-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk Unsubscribe: to UNsubscribe to the group send a BLANK email to WAMOfficialForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk Once your submission has been approved, you can then post emails. 4
An inconvenient breakdown in Central Sulawesi-February 2015 Continued from last month……
ISIS sympathizers operate in the mountains and many locals have been brutally murdered. Luckily we arrived safely in Ensa, having spent a night in Tentena, near the impressive Lake Poso.
Step thru’s remain the most common form of transport here. See photograph right
Tessa posing on a typical step thru’ in Tomata However automatic bikes are gaining in popularity - as are trail bikes. I borrowed a Kawasaki Trail 150 to ride out to inspect the construction of a new palm oil plant near to Ensa. See photograph below
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Views are impressive. The loss of the primary rain forest to make way for the plantations is of environmental concern. The Kwacker coped well with the conditions. I liked its light weight and the engine’s responsiveness. I found the seat very uncomfortable though. I understand that it is not easy to obtain the tires for this particular model-a problem in remote locations. After two nights in Ensa we set off back to Palu, staying the first night in Tentena. Leaving Tentena at 04:00 we drove to Poso where we stopped for breakfast - yellow rice. As we were leaving Poso we broke down, just in the danger area for terrorism1km from where 3 villagers had been murdered last month. Luckily the Police and Special forces were nearby and sheltered us for a few hours until we could arrange repairs to the broken fuel line. They were very friendly and helpful and posed for photographs. See photographs below. They shared their rations with us too.
Special forces checking Daihatsu Feroza in Poso
Tim and Fian chatting to the Police and Special forces near Poso
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Fian posing with the Special forces in Poso The break down delayed us for a few hours. We had a long way to go. Just as it was going dark around 18:00 the Feroza broke down again, this time a failed bottom hose. We lost all the radiator water in a remote location high up in the mountains. Amazingly a group of Muslims returning from a funeral, with veiled women stopped to assist us. One of the party was a mechanic and he carried out temporary repairs with the assistance of nearby villagers. We managed to obtain water from them to fill up the empty radiator. Folk were very kind to us that day and we appreciate greatly their assistance
We made it safely back to Palu, where we stayed several days, before returning, by plane to Bali. We fly back to UK from Bali, tomorrow-February 25 2015. Happy riding! Timothy J Dishman WAM Bali Chapter February 2015
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Sunday 14th June 2015, 9.30am. There will be an Official IAM Wirral Group (5115) Organised Club Ride Out in accordance with IAM Policy, (Medium Pace) starting at the Tudor Rose Car Park,Two Mills, Parkgate Rd, Wirral CH66 9PD. The Briefing will be at 9.32am Please be prompt with a full tank of fuel. Tour of The Peak District, via Carsington Water Ride leader will be Robin Tutchings using the drop off system, and will be medium paced. Wirral – Carsington Water: TR A540, TL A5117, TR A41, TL A51, via A49 part, past Tarporley and cont on A51, around Nantwich, cont on A51 to A34, TR into Stone, leaving on A520 to A521 to Cheadle, onto B5147, TR A52 to Ashbourne leaving on the A517, eventually forking left onto unclassified roads to the visitor centre. Carsington Water - Wirral: Exit right from the visitor centre onto B5035 forking left onto unclassified road through Brassington and Longcliffe to TL A5012, TR A515, TL B5054 to Warslow, TR unclassified roads over the A53 to Allgreave, TL A54, over the A523 and cont on A54 through Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich and Winsford, and re join the A51 to the lay-by before the A55 to re group and disperse. Please note: This a medium distance ride, each section taking between 90 – 120 minutes. For I.A.M. Insurance reasons this Ride Out is for Full Members and Associates. Non members wishing to join WAM are permitted one Official Group Organised ride provided they are considering joining the IAM group to complete the Skills For Life Course! Anyone requiring to be Observed please mention it to one of the ride out team on the day. If numbers are large we may have to have more than one group in which case there will be one further group with a leader and sweeper. If it snows heavily the ride may have to be curtailed ! otherwise the weather will not stop this thoroughly good day out. The tail rider, usually named Dave will be riding at the back looking after the rear of the group! If any other Full members are interested in leading another Group Organised Ride Out or have good ideas for future ride outs please contact: WAM Ride out leader: Rob Tutchings 07950 626622. Lead Bike. © RT 5/15. 8
MOBILITY SCOOTERS The IAM says ‘who cares wins!’ The IAM’s chief examiner, Peter Rodger is asking motorists to drive with extra caution where mobility scooter and electric wheelchair users are also using the road. It is extremely important drivers show vulnerable road users due consideration. Here are Peter’s top tips for driving with their safety in mind. 1. Some larger mobility scooter and electric wheelchairs can be used on the road and travel at a maximum speed of 8mph so you may need more time to react. You should avoid tailgating or overtaking them suddenly, especially on a busy road. Only overtake them when you are sure it is safe, giving them plenty of room. 2. When you are making a turn or going round a roundabout, don’t forget to check your blind spot and look in your mirrors – vulnerable road users are not always spotted easily. 3. Never wave vulnerable road users across the road as there may be traffic overtaking from behind or coming in the opposite direction that may not be aware of your signal. Smaller mobility scooters are restricted to using footpaths and pavements, and use dropped kerbs when they cross a road. Show consideration and avoid parking adjacent to dropped kerbs and make sure that you give yourself enough time to slow down and anticipate their manoeuvring to cross the road. 4. Be careful when travelling in the dark when vulnerable road users are harder to spot. Mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs are designed for use on the road and have lights, but they may not be switched on so you must take extra caution and fully concentrate so you can spot them easily. 5. They may often ride away from potholes and drain holes to avoid any sudden dips. Make sure you leave enough space between your vehicle and their vehicle to avoid road collisions. It’s better to be safe than sorry! Peter said: “People need to be more aware that roads are used by more than just motorists. While it can be frustrating to be delayed, please bear in mind that a driver has a lot more protection than the user of a mobility scooter. Act as you would around a pedestrian or cyclist, and give that person extra time, space and attention. It makes perfect sense.” 9
Britain’s Managed Motorways article from Stockport Advanced Motorists Since I took up my new job, I have been privileged to drive much of Britain’s road network and this includes sections of our Managed Motorways. I have driven them both at peak times and when there is nothing around, either late in the evening or very early in the morning. For those of you that share similar circumstances you will have come to notice how difficult it is to drive these sections. For those who are unfamiliar with these sections of motorway, perhaps a brief description is in order?
A typical section is now 4 lanes wide, with the hard shoulder now converted to a running lane at certain times of the day. Overhead, large metal gantries dictate which lanes you can and cannot use and usually enforce a lower ‘managed speed limit’. Gantries sit approximately 500m apart. The general observation is that the majority of the traffic is moving at the set speed limit, one or two slip by at higher speed usually to be brought to a swift halt by a car moving in front of them travel-
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ling at the permitted speed. Generally, the temporary running lane (ex-hard shoulder) is unpopulated except where there is a large amount of standing or very slow moving traffic or an exit is approaching and the overhead gantry sign dictates its use, in which case a mad exodus takes place.
Speed limits are displayed by large illuminated signs overhead. In congested areas, the speed can be as low as 40mph, I don’t believe I have seen a 30 yet, but I have driven through Motorway road works at this ridiculously low speed, and after travelling many miles at a constant 70mph, this is an art form in itself in selfmanagement.
My experience of Managed Motorways is that they are not really managed at all. Speed limits react to the volume of joining traffic and appear slow to respond to the levels of traffic leaving a section, where you seem to drive endless miles at some ridiculously low speed with no more than a smattering of other vehicles nearby and until, it appears to me, that someone in the control room has forgotten that signs are still displaying 40mph. My next gripe is the manner and speed with which the speed limit signs change and their ‘non consistency’, this I find incredibly difficult to accomplish…. One minute its 40mph, then 500m later its 50, then 40, then 60, then 40 again. I think there must be Muppets ‘managing the network’ Often I look up to see if Kermit (the Frog) is sitting up in the steelwork having a laugh! I digress, the Managed Network is to have a new name ‘Smart Motorway’. Goodness knows what is ‘smart’ about 11
such a system, but there we have it, and to make things apparently more seamless, we are to get a new breed of speed camera. The ‘Smart Motorway’ is not just about these bits of strategically built pieces of motorway, but by combining all the motorways together, they become a strategic cash cow for raising further revenue from the driver. Hadsec 3 is a camera capable of monitoring three lanes simultaneously. These are to be placed across the motorway network and the driver is immediately disadvantaged by the fact, they are relatively small to see and will not be painted any other colour than grey. On average, according to Highways Agency statistics 95% of all traffic passing along the lanes of a 3-lane traditional style motorway exceeds the speed limit. The Daily Telegraph confirms that the cameras are already operational on the M25. They will now be installed on six stretches of Smart Motorway over the next two years including the M1, M3 and M6. The system will then be expanded to cover parts of the M4, M5 and M23. You have been warned! *************************************
HADECS 3 speed cameras explained REDFLEXhadecs3 or HADECS 3 which is short for Highway Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System 3 is one the newest speed cameras to be installed on UK roads. Following Home Office approval the first Redflex Hadecs 3 system went live on the M25 motorway between junctions 5 and 6/7 on the 22nd October 2014. Between the 22nd October and 25th November 2014 some 668 motorists had been caught speeding by the new speed camera, many of which are calling it a 'stealth camera'. The Redflex Hadecs3 is being called a so called stealth speed camera by motorists and the media alike because the cameras are very small in size and painted grey
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rather than bright yellow (a colour that has become synonymous with speed cameras since 2003). This makes the new REDFLEXhadecs3 camera very hard to spot at the road side or within overhead gantries.
How do HADECS 3 speed cameras work? REDFLEXhadecs3 speed cameras can be either mounted on gantries over the road or on poles at the side of the road. The latter pole-mounted are a different variant called REDFLEXspeed-radar. Hadecs 3 cameras mounted to the side of the motorway automatically adjust to the new enforced speed limit on the motorway to keep traffic flowing during busy periods. REDFLEXhadecs3 uses non-intrusive dual radar for the detection of speed offences in all weather conditions, with lane identification, vehicle position and positive vehicle identification. In this application, the system is to be used for monitoring up to five lanes of traffic, consisting of a hard shoulder, which may or may not be a running lane, and four running lanes. A pole-mounted external aspect verification (EAV) system located in advance of the motorway variable message signs (VMS) monitors changes to the enforceable speed limit display and alerts the camera system to set new enforcing speed limit thresholds accordingly. Recorded speeding traffic offence data is sent from the camera system via a data network to an evidence receiving and control unit (ERCU) in a remote and secure office, where the offence viewing and decision system (OVDS) decrypts and then processes the violations for prosecution and when required creates a court file. Dual radar technology eliminates the usual radar anomalies and allows the system to be operated at sites where traditional radar-based camera systems fail, while the two radars operate independently to verify speed measurement. No film. Unlike other speed cameras, HADECS 3 cameras don't use film so there is no limit to the number of incriminating motorists it can help to prosecute. Your number plate, date and time stamp are stored by each HADECS 3 speed camera and then if your average SPOT THE CAMERAS
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speed between the cameras is above the speed limit you will automatically be issued a speeding fine. HADECS 3 smart motorway installations The HADECS 3 speed cameras have so far been installed on the M25 in Kent between junctions 5 and 6/7. More locations are planned on a number of other motorways in the UK, including: ‣M1 in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire ‣M3 in Surrey and Hampshire ‣M6 around Birmingham ‣M25 junctions 5 to 6/7 Kent (live since October 2014) These busy motorway locations all share one thing in common, they are all smart motorways. A smart motorway (formerly managed motorway) is a section of motorway which uses active traffic management (ATM) techniques to increase capacity by using variable speed limits and the use of the hard shoulder as an addi-
SPOT THE CAMERAS tional lane at times of congestion. In the instance of the M25 smart motorway section in Kent, the speed limit is normally set to 70mph. However when the hard shoulder lane is in use, the speed limit can reduce down to 40mph, 50mph or 60mph. Any change in the speed limit is clearly communicated to motorists via overhead gantry signs. The HADECS speed enforcement cameras then adjust to the new speed limit. 14
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DISCLAIMER:-
The articles published herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of Advanced Motorists Ltd, or the Wirral Group of Advanced Motorcyclists. They are the opinions of individual contributors and are published with the view that free expression promotes discussion and interests. So you have been warned. Interested in doing the Advanced Car Test? Wirral Advanced Motorists are the people to see. Go to www.wirraliam.co.uk